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-   -   A journey to the world's second largest mangrove forest. (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/74567-journey-worlds-second-largest-mangrove-forest.html)

I had always dreamt of going to these forests from my college days when my friends used to describe these forests and it so happened I had the opportunity to see this place.I had travelled from Hyderabad to Trichy for Pongal and I had 3 days in my hand and was looking out for a short trip and finally short listed to Chidambaram and Pichavaram as these two places were nearby.
A small word about these forests mangrove forests are found in depositional coastal environments where fine sediments (often with high organic content) collect in areas protected from high energy wave action.The fine, anoxic
sediments under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which colloidal particles in the sediments scavenged from the water. Mangrove removal disturbs these underlying sediments, often creating problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and biota.

Started from Trichy in the morning 5am and took the Veppur-Vridachallam-Bhuvanagiri-Chidambaram route.The route from Veppur to Bhuvanagiri was average with lot of potholes could manage to reach Chidambaram by 7.30am.

Had Darshan in

the temple as the crowd was not much and spent about 45mins then finished breakfast and started from Chidambaram

around 9am and reached Pichavaram 9.30am.We were the second boat to start and we took the 2hrs trip so that we could

cover the beach also.Our boatman was very helpful and was narrating about the forests.He was saying that the whole

forest area was around 3500acres of land.Initially when the boat started I was not that impressed as the water was

backwaters of ocean and with dense forests later as we entered the forests then I realised it was worth the trip

Cool, My brother studied in Annamalai University and always tells his trips they made during his college days in cycle to Pitchavaram. Nice pictures. Are the boats safe? why no one is wearing life jackets?

I have heard of a lovely beach accessible only by boat at the end of the mangrove swamps - did you manage to go there?

Nice destination, off the beaten track. Looking forward to more pics and info on places, accomodation and rates etc.

Keep it coming doc!

Cheers,

Oh!!! I never knew that Pichchavaram is second largest mangroove forest in the world, otherwise I would've made to it 2 years back when I was driving to Chidambaram. Nice going, keep them coming @gajadonga

Hi venkibala most of the boats are row boats and they are quite safe.We took the motor boat so that we can go upto the beach as these boats travel faster.

hvkumar sir as we had taken the motor boat and we were quite early to the boathouse so the boatman accepted us to take us to the beach.If the crowd is more they usually deny the trip to beach as it takes 2hrs to go and come back.

Hi Ravendra the place is quite ok facilities not that great.Occomodation you have only TTDC rooms which are average and the rates are quite reasonable.The best way would be to stay at Chidambaram and reach Pichavaram.The boats start as early as 7am and you can view a lot of birds during that time.

Please post pics of the beach and the mangrove (closer one;s)

I had lunch at the TTDC Pichavaram hotel once, one of the dirtiest and least attarctive of Hotel Tamil Nadus! Avoidable!

As we started the mangrove forests were quite becoming more denser and my boatman said he will take us to the beach first and then into the mangrove forest.We could see some birds.All of us were excited about the beach.

All of us were jumping in the beach for some time.If you look closely in one of the pictures the sand colour is more of black colour.We collected some sand and shells.We could get hold of a decomposed fish with teeth.On the shores there were houses which were destroyed by tsunami.

hvkumar sir as you said the food is very poor only one TTDC restaurant rest all are small shops. Facilities wise not upto the mark.

Great spot!

Waiting for the rest of the travelogue.